Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai-a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the worlds longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai-where what you love, what youre good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap-means that each day is infused with meaning. Its the reason we get up in the morning. Its also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact theres no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because theyve found a real purpose in life--the happiness of always being busy.
In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds-one of the worlds Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and-their best-kept secret-how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesnt want to find happiness in every day?